Buffett's secretary to join Obama

By BYRON TAU

01/24/2012 09:44 AM EST

Billionaire Warren Buffett's longtime secretary will be joining first lady Michelle Obama in her box at tonight's State of the Union, White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer announced on Twitter.

Debbie Bosanek, who has worked for Buffett for nearly two decades, has become a symbol in the White House's fight over the tax code and economic fairness. Obama is expected to renew his push for the so-called "Buffett rule" that would bring investment taxation levels into line with income taxation levels — and ensure that upper income earners pay rates as high as middle-class Americans.

"Warren Buffett's secretary shouldn't pay a higher tax rate than Warren Buffett," President Obama said in September, when he unveiled his American Jobs Act proposal. It's a trope that Buffett himself has repeated, as he has campaigned for higher taxes on investment income.

It's common practice for presidents to invite guests to sit next to the first spouse that fit with the theme of their address — and Bosanek's presence is a big hint that the address will tilt heavily towards economic issues of fairness.

Annie Lowrey, writing in Slate, reports that Bosanek has traditionally been very wary of the limelight — acting as a gatekeeper to the billionaire investor, not as a newsmaker. While she does acts as the press liaison for Buffett and his company, she's tight-lipped. She reportedly once wore a t-shirt with the caption: "Hi, I'm Debbie B. Warren is not available, and I have no comment."